Synthesis and structure of new dimethyl- and hydrido-iron carbonyl compounds

Abstract

The preparation of the first iron carbonyl compound, Fe(CH 3) 2(CO) 2(PMe 3) 2, to contain two methyl groups bonded to the metal was achieved by two methods: ( a) alkylation with CH 3Li of the FeI bond in FeI(CH 3)(CO) 2(PMe 3) 2 and ( b) oxidative addition of CH 3I to the compound Na[Fe(CH 3)(CO) 2(PMe 3) 2] prepared in situ. The first method also yields, as a side-product, a new hydridoiron carbonyl FeHI(CO)(PMe 3) 3. The structure and configuration of both compounds have been determined from their IR and NMR spectra.